Pollution curbs monsoon’s cleansing
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Pollution curbs monsoon’s cleansing

News:

  1. The study published in the Science Magazine founds that increased pollution particularly from coal burning have potentially weaken ability of monsoon.

Important Facts:

  1. The monsoon plays a critical role in flushing out pollutants over the Asia region.
  2. Researcher of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry from Germany performed atmospheric chemistry measurements by aircraft in a campaign called the “Oxidation Mechanism Observations”.
  3. Key finding of the campaign.
  • The researchers measured the summer monsoon outflow in the upper troposphere between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.
  • The monsoon sustained a “remarkably efficient” cleansing mechanism in which contaminants are rapidly oxidized and deposited on the Earth’s surface.
  • Some pollutants were lifted above the monsoon clouds.
  • In winter, when atmospheric moisture is low fumes from unburnt particles it get disperse toward the Indian Ocean leading to vast pollution haze.
  • However what happened to unburnt particles in summer is still unknown.
  • Pollution particles can cool the sea surface temperature mostly in winter.
  • It was found that when circulation reverses in summer the cooler sea surface evaporates less which can reduce the moisture flux leading to weaken the monsoon.
  • The scientist also pointed out that the monsoon system may be flushing out pollutants but there was uncertainty over this effects the monsoon.
  1. The “elevated-heat-pump” effect
  • This effect has boost the seasonal heating of the Tibetan Plateau.
  • The effect result in increasing warming in the upper troposphere during late spring and early summer.
  • Spurring has enhanced monsoon rainfall over northern India during June and July.
  1. Effects on India cities:
  • The India Meteorological Department forecast a 3% dip in total amount of the summer monsoon rains this year.
  • Pollution levels especially in north India’s Gangetic plane shoot up in winter.
  • The cities have witness increase in air pollution during summer seasons.
  • Delhi, Gurugram and several parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are currently face huge dust haze.
  • The air pollution have put the air quality levels to the ‘severe’ category on the air quality index.
  • Indian rainfall is enhanced in spring due to increased loading of black carbon.
  • But the monsoon may subsequently weaken through increased cloudiness and surface cooling.
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